Charming Neckties (www.workstyle.ch)

14Gen

Neckties have always been a symbol of sophistication. The most important personalities wore suits with ties as a sign of social status. Despite the fact that men are becoming increasingly casual in their manner of dress, we can be sure of something: the tie is an emblem that will never die.

USESThe cravat is the most personal piece of clothing in a male wardrobe. “A man chooses the tie he is going to wear because of his morning mood,” Stefano Bigi, co-owner of Bigi Cravatte tells us. It is an accessory characteristic of a man who values classic tradition while paying careful attention to the latest developments in fashion trends. But what criteria might be used by a manager when it’s time to choose the necktie? Gianni Cerutti, co-owner of Passaggio Cravatte claims that “there are no rules for a tie choice, or, better, there is only one rule: instinct. I always say that necktie choice is a true gesture of instinct. I like it or I don’t. The truth is, when you are opposite the mirror, and you don’t know what necktie you should wear, there are several factors you consider: humor, scale of vanity, weather, the importance of the day’s events.” The necktie is a piece of clothing you can always wear, whether you have a job meeting or you are going out with friends. As Giorgio Ricciardi, owner of Giorgio Napoli, says, “Necktie choice must be absolutely rigorous in form, color, design. But it’s obvious you can feel free to choose a holiday of colors or design when you are wearing it in your free time.”

PRODUCTIONThere is not a standard length of time for making neckties. The average is around forty-five to sixty minutes, but every brand has its own manufacturing times. Stefano and Paola Bigi, co-owner of Bigi Cravatte, calculate an average time of thirty-five to forty minutes for each tie. “The entire process is about thirty-five to forty minutes, but it could change depending on the number of labels we want on the tie, or if hand-rolled edges are required. The cleverness—experience–of the needlewomen is also very important,” they tell us.
Different phases are required in necktie manufacturing, as Maria D’Ambrosio, owner of Nodi d’autore, explains. “Ours is a handmade product. The first stage is the cut of the weave, and the second is the cut of the lining. Then the inside is cut (soul) with a machine known in Italian as “rasofilo.” Then follows the ironing with the insertion of the soul (lining). When the necktie is finished, it has to be bended and manually sewed with a single thread. In the last stage, the keeper loop and the label will be put in place.”
Costs of production include three areas: fabric, design, and labor. “Production costs depend on composition and complexity. Jacquard woven silks are the most luxurious and expensive types of silks to use. This type of silk is considered heavy so as to provide a reliable body. The complexity of the design is another factor, as each color represents an individual yarn fed into the loom,” David Pireh, PR and CRM at Edwin Pireh tells us. In the majority of cases, fabric costs exceed labor costs. As Amedeo Quaranta, owner of Amedeo Quaranta Locatelli says, “In the making of a tie, various costs are involved, especially raw material costs (silk, wool, and cotton). These elements account for seventy percent of the total expense, and you have to add the labor costs (thirty percent).”

NUMBERSMaking a handmade necktie is a process that needs the participation of different professionals, beginning with the choice of fabric made by a designer, followed by the production, and ending with the finishing touches. This slow process will not result in a large number of final products. At Drake’s, for example, “we produce around 2,000 ties a week,” Jamie Ferguson tells us.

CHOOSING THE WEAVESOften the company owners make the style choices. At Bigi Cravatte, for example, Paola and Stefano choose their own collections. “We count on our own experience; we research with just the help of our archives.” The situation is quite different for Passaggio Cravatte, where Marta Passaggio, co-owner and Gianni Cerruti choose only vintage silks. “We are always on the lookout for silks. We don’t have a collection because vintage silks are endangered. We show what we find to our customers. Touching a silk from seventy years ago makes us feel so excited. To be used at Passaggio Cravatte, a silk has to thrill us,” Cerruti tells us. A different approach is used at Cravattificio Diana, as Silvana Bressan, E-sales Manager, explains. “The style is followed by our style office who provide inputs to our designers. When designs are ready, they are sent to production, where they are colored, and where “blankets” are made; immediately afterward, the company picks the most suitable colors for the brand, which are sent to the final stage of production where samples and traces are made. These samples are shown in the boutique, and we then produce what we sell to customers.”

RELATIONS WITH CUSTOMERSSince a cravat selection is very personal, there is a close relationship between customer and tie seller. “I personally know most of my clients, since each tie is custom-made,” Mark Roscoe, owner of Mark Roscoe Designs, emphasizes. The seller should know about customers in order to show them the weaves that will be most appreciated by them. At Edwin Pireh, for example, “a purchase is not just a purchase, it’s personal. Every item we make is handmade, which means every item we have is one of a kind. Therefore, we like to keep in constant contact with our clients to ensure they love their item as much as we do. With Edwin Pireh bespoke, Edwin actually visits the client (anywhere in the world) and over a period of time will work with them from concept to completion stage,” David Pireh concludes.